| Cap-Haïtien Kapayisyen, Okap |
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Cap-Haïtien
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Haiti |
| Department | Nord |
| Arrondissement | Cap-Haïtien |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Michel St Croix |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (8 August 2005)[1] | |
| • Total | 200,251 |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| Sister cities[2] |
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| Old San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Portland, Maine, United States |
| New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
Cap-Haïtien (Okap or Kapayisyen in Kréyòl) is a city of about 190,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Department of Nord. Previously, named as Cap-Français, Cap-Henri, and le Caps, it was an important city during the colonial period, serving as the capital of the French Colony of Saint-Domingue from the city`s formal foundation in 1711 until 1770 when the capital was moved to Port-au-Prince, and was also the first capital of the Kingdom of Northern Haiti under King Henri Christophe. One of the first Spanish towns on Hispaniola, Puerto Real, was founded near here in 1503; abandoned in 1578, its ruins were discovered in 1975.[3]
Cap-Haïtien's distance from Haïti's capital, Port-au-Prince, combined with the dire condition of Haïti's transportation infrastructure, has often made Cap-Haïtien an incubator for revolutionary or anti-Government figures. On February 5–29, 2004, the city was taken over by militants who opposed to the rule of Haïtian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, forcing him out from the country.
The central area of the city is located between the Bay of Cap-Haïtien to the east, and nearby mountainsides to the west, which are increasingly dominated by flimsy urban slums. The streets are generally narrow and arranged in grids. As a legacy of the United States occupation of Haïti from 1915–1934, Cap-Haïtien's north-south streets were renamed as single letters (beginning with Rue A, a major avenue), and its east-west streets with numbers. This system breaks down outside of the central city, which is itself dominated by numerous markets, churches, and low-rise apartment buildings (3–4 floors each) constructed primarily before and during the U.S. occupation. Many such buildings have balconies on the upper floors which overlook the narrow streets below, creating an intimate communal atmosphere during the Haitian dinner hours.
Cap-Haïtien is the city of the historic Haïtian town of Milot, which lies 12 miles to the southwest along a gravel road. Milot was Haïti's first site capital under the self-proclaimed King Henri Christophe, who ascended to power in 1807, three years after Haïti had gained independence from France, renaming the city as Cap-Henri. As a result, Milot hosts the ruins of the Sans-Souci Palace, wrecked by the 1842 earthquake, as well as the Citadelle Laferrière, a massive stone fortress bristling with cannons. The Citadelle is located five miles from Milot, atop a nearby mountain. On clear days, its silhouette is visible from Cap-Haïtien.
The small Cap-Haïtien International Airport, located on the southeast edge of the city, is currently served by several small domestic airlines and is patrolled by Chilean UN troops. The city hosts several hundred UN personnel as part of the ongoing United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
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Cap-Haïtien is known as the nation's largest center of Historic monuments and Tourism Finance. Its calm water and picturesque Caribbean beaches and its Citadelle Laferrière, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, have made it a resort and vacation destination for Haïti's upper classes, comparable to Pétionville. Cap-Haïtien has, in general, also seen greater foreign tourist activity than much of Haiti, due to its isolation from political instability. Cap-Haïtien is also unique for its French colonial architecture, which has been uniquely well preserved. After the Haitian Revolution, many craftsmen from Cap-Haïtien fled to French-controlled New Orleans, as a result, the two cities share many similarities in styles of architecture. Especially notable are the many gingerbread houses lining the city's older streets.
The walled Labadie beach resort compound is located six miles to the city's northwest, and has served as a brief stopover for Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Today, major Royal Caribbean Cruise ships, including the largest and most luxurious (Oasis of the Seas), dock weekly at Labadie. It is a private resort leased by Royal Caribbean International. Royal Caribbean International has contributed the largest proportion of tourist revenue to Haiti since 1986, employing 300 locals, allowing another 200 to sell their wares on the premises, and paying the Haitian government US$6 per tourist. The resort is connected to Cap-Haïtien by a mountainous dirt and gravel road. RCI has built a pier at Labadie capable of servicing the Oasis class ships, completed in late 2009, no longer requiring passengers to be tendered from anchored ships.[4] Attractions include a Haitian flea market, numerous beaches, watersports, a water-oriented playground, and the popular zip-line.[5]
Vertières is the site of the Battle of Vertières - the last and defining battle of the Haitian Revolution. On November 18, 1803, Haitian army led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines defeated a French colonial army led by the Comte de Rochambeau, leading to the independence of Haïti. It is also the site that made Capois La Mort famous for his bravery. In the last battle for the Independence he survived all the French bullets that nearly killed him; his horse was killed under him and his hat fell off but he kept on marching on the French while screaming "En avant!" which means "Let's go forward". As a result, the independent Republic of Haiti was proclaimed on 1 January 1804. 18 November has been widely celebrated since then as a Day of Army and Victory in Haiti.
The Citadelle Laferrière or, Citadelle Henri Christophe, or simply the Citadelle, is a large mountaintop fortress located approximately 17 miles (27 km) south of the city of Cap-Haïtien and five miles (8 km) beyond the town of Milot. It is the largest fortress in the Americas and was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1982—along with the nearby Sans-Souci Palace. The Citadel was built by Henri Christophe, a leader during the Haitian slave rebellion and subsequently King of Northern Haiti, after the country gained its independence from France at the beginning of the 19th century.
Bois Caïman (Haitian Creole: Bwa Kayiman), 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of road RN 1, is the village where Vodoo rites were performed under a tree. This was the venue where Dutty Boukman (a magician) held the first antislavery movement secretly on August 14, 1791 and a Vodoo, a planned uprising ceremony, was also performed. Haiti's famous antislave leader African chief's son was Mackandal called Dutty Boukman who became an Houngan and led a brigand of maroons. Following this rite, the insurrection was started on the night of August 22–23, 1791. He terrorized the northern plain area by poisoning food and water. He was captured and burned alive in January 1758. Another leader who followed Boukman was Jean-François. This was the beginning of the uprising by the slaves, which is said to be the Haitian equivalent of the storming of the Bastille. During this uprising, the plantation and cane fields were torched and French settlers were massacred. This was a successful revolt that led to the independence of Haiti. The place is now identified only by a ficus tree. Adjoining it is a colonial well, which is credited with mystic powers.
Beaches in Cap are good but maintained badly – Cormeier Plage and Labadee are the well-known beaches. Labadee (also Labadie) is a port and a beach located on the northern coast of Haiti. It is a private resort leased to the Royal Caribbean International. Belli Beach is a small sandy cove with boats and hotels. Labadie village could be visited from here.[6]
Morne Rouge is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the south of Cap. It is the "Habitation Le Normand de Mezy", a sugar plantation known for the several slaves who led rebellion against the French.[7]
On 7 May 1842, an earthquake destroyed most of the city and other towns in the north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Among the buildings destroyed are significantly damaged was the Sans-Souci Palace. Ten thousand people were killed.[8] It has been estimated that its magnitude was 8.1.[9]
In the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake which destroyed port facilities in Port-au-Prince, the Port international du Cap-Haitien was being used to deliver relief supplies.[10]
Since the city in general was not as affected in is infrastructure as Port-au-Prince, former Port-au-Prince businessmen and many people have moved to Cap Haitian.
Little damage have been reported as consequence of the 2010 earthquake, such as the collapse of a school classroom that killed 4 children and injured one.
Cap-Haïtien is served by the Cap-Haïtien International Airport, Haiti's second busiest airport. It is a hub for Salsa d'Haiti.
The Port international du Cap-Haitien is Cap-Haïtien main seaport.
The Route Nationale#1 connects Cap-Haïtien with the Haitian capital city Port-au-Prince via the cities of Saint-Marc and Gonaïves. The Route Nationale#3 also connects Cap-Haïtien with Port-au-Prince via the Central Plateau and the cities of Mirebalais and Hinche. Cap-Haïtien has one of the best grid systems in Haiti with its north-south streets were renamed as single letters (beginning with Rue A, a major avenue), and its east-west streets with numbers. The Boulevard du Cap-Haitian is Cap-Haïtien main boulevard that runs along the Atlantic Ocean in the north.
Cap-Haïtien is served by tap tap and local taxis or motorcycles.
A union of 4 Congregational Church private schools have been present for two decades in Cap-Haïtien. They are considered as higher education establishment the mainstream framework of the public school system. also known as École Normale Supérieure outside, The term is most commonly used to refer of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism.